Struck by first loss, Creamline rises to seal No. 1 seed

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos throughout a sport towards Galeries Tower Excessive Risers within the PVL All-Filipino Convention. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

Creamline’s picture of invincibility took successful final week. However whereas that first defeat put a dent on how the staff seemed from the skin, it additionally made the Cool Smashers acknowledge what they must do heading into the knockout spherical of the PVL All-Filipino Convention.

“I believe everyone knows what our lapses are. I believe it’s good to expertise [a loss] earlier than the knockout video games,” Tots Carlos stated, referring to a five-set loss to PLDT that floor Creamline’s 19-game successful streak to a halt.

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The Cool Smashers seemed susceptible at instances on Thursday earlier than pulling off a dramatic second set comeback towards Galeries Tower on the best way to a 25-15, 26-24, 25-19 win at PhilSports Enviornment in Pasig Metropolis that finalized their spot as the highest seeds going into the qualifying section.

“The coaches all the time say that we be taught from the losses,” Carlos added after dropping 18 factors on the Highrisers. “However we additionally should not overlook that we nonetheless have extra vital video games, in order that’s what we are going to deal with.”

The reigning All-Filipino queens go into the following spherical as No. 1 after a 10-1 report, and as a reward, the Cool Smashers can have the lightest project within the KO stage.

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Creamline’s win additionally sealed Petro Gazz’s second-place end even when the Angels beat bottom-dweller Nxled at press time.

Regardless of taking a 30-28, 25-21, 23-25, 18-25, 16-14 shock handed by the Excessive Pace Hitters, the Cool Smashers nonetheless appear like the powerhouse squad that simply went by a bump on the street.

Galeries Tower pushed Creamline within the second set after taking a 16-9 lead.

However Alyssa Valdez took issues into her personal palms to key a 15-5 ending kick to the set.

“We’ve been by totally different losses [in other] conferences, however they have been really one thing that I can say, on the finish of day, as actual wake-up calls,” Valdez stated after contributing 16 factors.

Awoken big

“We have been humbled by that loss,” she added. “We’d say that we nonetheless have so many issues to enhance on as a staff, so it was a very good loss for us if that is smart.”

And paired with being pushed in a way by the Highrisers, it’s scary to suppose what an awoken big in Creamline might be shifting deeper into the playoffs.

“We nonetheless must good our system, the minor particulars that can assist us within the endgame and would matter particularly in tight video games,” Valdez stated.

“Blissful to be ranked No. 1,” coach Sherwin Meneses stated. “However this time, we are able to’t calm down as a result of the following sport will likely be a knockout, so that is the half the place we must always give 110 %.”